[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 147 (Wednesday, September 28, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H6008-H6009]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 ICANN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Babin) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, it was recently revealed that 500 million 
Yahoo email accounts were hacked in 2014, making it the largest data 
breach in U.S. history. Even more troubling is the fact that the 
perpetrators have been reported to be state-sponsored actors, with 
China and Russia among the likely suspects.
  Yet, in the face of such vulnerabilities, President Obama wants to 
give the Chinese and Russian Governments more control over how the 
Internet operates. The President has even promised to shut down the 
Federal Government budget so that he can meet his goal of giving away a 
portion of America's control over the Internet to these foreign 
governments by October 1, 2016.

                              {time}  1030

  Rushing headlong to meet an arbitrary date to hand over our Internet 
control is incredibly foolish. In fact, it is stupid. No one rewards a 
criminal for their criminal acts, but that is exactly what the 
President's policy does.
  Sadly, it is yet another example of how this administration has 
sacrificed U.S. leadership and values across the world to advance a 
reckless agenda. The policies from this administration have only led to 
America losing standing and influence across the globe on a wide range 
of fronts--and it must end.
  Our adversaries have become bolder, taking advantage of the vacuum of 
leadership created by the pulling back of U.S. leadership. The forces 
of extremism, violence, totalitarianism, and criminal enterprises have 
filled the void, and the American people are suffering as a result.

[[Page H6009]]

  The disastrous nuclear deal with Iran is a very good example. It has 
not only failed to curtail the Iranian regime's plans to develop 
nuclear weapons, it has also resulted in a ransom payment of $1.7 
billion for four Americans who were being held illegally by Iran.
  This display of weakness has only emboldened the largest state 
sponsor of international terrorism. It has provided Iran with over $1 
billion to fund terrorism, enhance its illegal ballistic missile 
development programs, and ramp up its aggression against U.S. military 
forces.
  President Reagan warned us: ``Weakness, after all, is a temptation--
it tempts the pugnacious to assert themselves--but strength is a 
declaration that cannot be misunderstood. Strength is a condition that 
declares actions have consequences. Strength is a prudent warning to 
the belligerent that aggression need not go unanswered.''
  Whenever this administration pulls back, the belligerent have happily 
stepped in to fill the void. That is why we must reject this latest 
effort to relinquish U.S. leadership over the Internet.
  The excessive hacking encouraged by the Governments of Russia, China, 
and others should not be rewarded. We must stand up to these dangerous 
actors and put the safety, security, and interests of the United States 
first. Simply put, Russia and China cannot be trusted with a larger 
role in the operation of the Internet. We have a duty to block the 
President's foolish and reckless Internet giveaway before it goes into 
effect October 1, 2016.
  It will further cede more control to our adversaries and weaken 
America's influence on the international stage. Stopping this giveaway 
must be included in this year's spending bill. It is absolutely 
critical that Congress takes action.

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